Protective case for a portable computing device

ABSTRACT

A protective case for a portable computing device may include a rigid component comprising an upper surface and a cavity therein for receiving a portable computing device. The protective case may also include a cover having a surface area that is larger than the area of the upper surface that is open to the cavity. At least a central area of the cover may be transparent. The cover may be positioned over the cavity, and may also be positioned over part of the upper surface of the rigid component. The protective case may also include a pliable component molded around at least a portion of the rigid component and over a portion of the cover that is in contact with the upper surface of the rigid component, thereby forming a waterproof seal between the cover and the upper surface of the rigid component.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/067,780, titled “PROTECTIVE CASE FOR A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE,”filed Oct. 30, 2013, with inventors Ryan Hoobler and Phil Utykanski,which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to portable computing devices.More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a protective casefor a portable computing device.

BACKGROUND

In the last several decades, advances in electronic technology havereduced the cost of increasingly complex and useful portable computingdevices. Cost reduction and consumer demand have proliferated the use ofportable computing devices such that they are practically ubiquitous inmodern society, most often in connection with entertainment,communications and office productivity. Some examples of commonly usedportable computing devices include smartphones, tablet computers,portable media players, etc.

Many portable computing devices include a touch screen display, i.e., anelectronic visual display that the user can control through simple ormulti-touch gestures by touching the screen with one or more fingers. Avariety of protective cases are available for such portable computingdevices. Some cases do not have any type of protective cover over theface of the touch screen display. Other cases include a protectivetransparent cover, but are not waterproof. Still other cases include aprotective transparent cover, and are rendered waterproof through theuse of an adhesive sealant.

Barcodes and barcode readers are also in widespread use today,particularly in commercial environments such as point-of-sale stationsin retail stores and supermarkets, inventory and document tracking, andthe like. A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation ofinformation. Devices for identifying or extracting information frombarcodes are generally referred to as barcode readers (or barcodescanners).

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a protective case for aportable computing device. The protective case may include a rigidcomponent comprising an upper surface and a cavity therein for receivingthe portable computing device. The cavity may define an area of theupper surface that is open to the cavity. The protective case may alsoinclude a cover having a surface area that is larger than the area ofthe upper surface that is open to the cavity. At least a central area ofthe cover may be transparent, so that the display of the portablecomputing device may be visible through the cover. The cover may bepositioned over the cavity, and may also be positioned over part of theupper surface of the rigid component. The protective case may alsoinclude a pliable component molded around at least a portion of therigid component and over a portion of the cover that is in contact withthe upper surface of the rigid component, thereby forming a waterproofseal between the cover and the upper surface of the rigid component.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a barcode readeraccessory for coupling to a portable computing device. The barcodereader accessory may include a protective case, such as the protectivecase that was just described. In addition, the barcode reader accessorymay include a barcode reader engine and a connector positioned within aninterior portion of the protective case. The connector may be coupled tothe barcode reader engine and mechanically configured to engage a matingconnector on the portable computing device when the portable computingdevice is positioned within the protective case. The connector mayinclude a contact for the exchange of data between the barcode readerengine and the portable computing device through a corresponding contactof the mating connector on the portable computing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a prior art design for aprotective case for a portable computing device.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another prior art design for aprotective case for a portable computing device.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a barcodereader accessory comprising a protective case in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the barcode reader accessory shown inFIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a prior art design for aprotective case 12 for a portable computing device 10 that includes anon-waterproof protective transparent cover 14. The case 12 includes twogenerally rigid plastic components 16 a and 16 b. Component 16 a slidesonto the device 10 from one direction and component 16 b slides onto thedevice 10 from the other direction. When mated, they form a protectivecase 12 around the device 10. The throat 18 of each of the components 16a and 16 b is slightly larger than the thickness of the device 10 sothat the components 16 a and 16 b may also slide over the cover 14 whenpositioned on the face of the device 10. More specifically, the size ofthe throat 18 is equal to the thickness of the device 10 plus thethickness of the transparent cover 14.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another prior art design for aprotective case 20 for a portable computing device 10 that includes aprotective transparent cover 22. The case 20 includes a rigid plasticcomponent 24 (or assembly of components secured together in a waterproofmanner) that surrounds the device 10. The component 24 has a firstthroat 26 a, 26 b, which is substantially equal to the thickness of thedevice 10. The component 24 further has an expanded throat section 28 a,28 b, which is the thickness of the device 10 plus the thickness of thetransparent cover 22. To render the case 20 waterproof, an adhesivesealant is used at the surface 30 a, 30 b formed by the transparentcover 22 and the expanded throat section 28 a, 28 b. A pliable plasticcomponent 32 such as a rubber over mold can surround a portion of therigid plastic component 24 to provide further impact protection.

One embodiment of a protective case 34 in accordance with the presentdisclosure will be described in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4. Thisprotective case 34 may be part of a barcode reader accessory 60 for aportable computing device 10.

The protective case 34 may include a rigid component 38. The rigidcomponent 38 may be made of a relatively inflexible material, such asplastic. An upper surface 42 of the rigid component 38 may comprise acavity 62 for receiving the portable computing device 10. The cavity 62is shown in FIG. 4. The cavity 62 defines an area of the upper surface42 that is open to the cavity 62. The cavity 62 may comprise an opensection in the central part of the rigid component 38. The cavity 62 maybe sized to fit the portable computing device 10, so that the portablecomputing device 10 may fit within the cavity 62. The cavity 62 maycomprise a rectangular shape, to match the shape of the portablecomputing device 10.

The protective case 34 may also comprise a display cover 36. The displaycover 36 may have a surface area that is larger than the area of theupper surface 42 that is open to the cavity 62. The entire surface areaof the display cover 36 may be transparent. Alternatively, a centralarea 84 of the display cover 36 may be transparent, and other areas ofthe display cover 36 may be non-transparent. The display cover 36 mayprovide protection for the face of the portable computing device 10, andparticularly the display (e.g., a touch screen display) of the portablecomputing device 10. When the accessory 60 is in its assembled form (asshown in FIG. 3), the display cover 36 may be positioned over the cavity62 and may also be positioned over part of the upper surface 42 of therigid component 38. More specifically, as can be seen in FIG. 4, theupper surface 42 of the rigid component 38 may comprise four sides thatsurround the rectangular-shaped cavity 62. When the display cover 36 ispositioned over the cavity 62, the display cover 36 may be in contactwith each of the four sides of the upper surface 42.

The protective case 34 may also include a pliable component 40. Thepliable component 40 may be made of a relatively flexible material, suchas rubber. As shown in FIG. 3, the pliable component 40 may be moldedaround the entire rigid component 38 (or substantially all of the rigidcomponent 38). Alternatively, the pliable component 40 may only bemolded around a portion of the rigid component 38. In addition, thepliable component 40 may be molded over a portion 80 of the displaycover 36 that is in contact with the upper surface 42 of the rigidcomponent 38.

In FIG. 3, the rigid component 38 is shown as a single component.However, as shown in FIG. 4, the rigid component 38 may comprise twoseparate components that are attached together. These separatecomponents may be referred to herein as an upper rigid component 38 aand a lower rigid component 38 b.

Similarly, although the pliable component 40 is shown as a singlecomponent in FIG. 3, the pliable component 40 may also comprise twoseparate components. These separate components, which are shown in FIG.4, may be referred to herein as an upper pliable component 40 a and alower pliable component 40 b. The upper pliable component 40 a may bemolded over the upper rigid component 38 a, and the lower pliablecomponent 40 b may be molded over the lower rigid component 38 b.

In order to secure the display cover 36 in place, the display cover 36may be positioned as described above (i.e., so that it covers the cavity62 and is in contact with each of the four sides of the upper surface42), and then the upper pliable component 40 a may be molded over theupper rigid component 38 a while the display cover 36 is in place. Thismolding operation may form a waterproof seal between the display cover36 and the upper surface 42. The waterproof seal may be formed withoutthe use of an adhesive sealant, which can be advantageous because it maysimplify the manufacturing process and improve durability.

The upper rigid component 38 a may include one or more features thatsimplify the process of positioning the display cover 36 in the correctlocation during manufacturing. For example, the upper rigid component 38a may include a ridge 72 that protrudes above the upper surface 42around the perimeter of the upper surface 42. In the depictedembodiment, the ridge 72 extends around substantially the entireperimeter of the upper surface 42. In an alternative embodiment, theridge 72 may only extend around a portion of the perimeter of the uppersurface 42. With the ridge 72, the upper surface 42 forms the bottom ofa shallow “tray” (or cavity) into which the display cover 36 may bepositioned. The depth of this shallow tray may be considerably smallerthan the depth of the cavity 62. The shallow tray formed by the ridge 72may help to retain the display cover 36 in place once the display cover36 has been correctly positioned.

Another feature that may simplify the manufacturing process is thepresence of small positioning bosses 50 that protrude from the uppersurface 42 of the upper rigid component 38 a. The positioning bosses 50may be located around the perimeter of the upper surface 42, just insidethe ridge 72. The positioning bosses 50 may align with correspondingpositioning cut-outs 52 located around the perimeter of the displaycover 36. If the display cover 36 is positioned in such a way that thepositioning bosses 50 do not align with the positioning cut-outs 52,then this indicates that the display cover 36 is positioned incorrectly.

Thus, the ridge 72 and the positioning bosses 50 in the upper rigidcomponent 38 a may make it easier for the display cover 36 to becorrectly positioned (and to remain in the correct position) duringmanufacturing, particularly during the operation of molding the upperpliable component 40 a over the assembly of the upper rigid component 38a and the display cover 36.

The upper rigid component 38 a and the lower rigid component 38 b may behinged together to form a “clamshell,” i.e., a device comprising twoparts that are attached by a hinge and that open and close. Theclamshell formed by the upper rigid component 38 a and the lower rigidcomponent 38 b may be opened and closed to permit the portable computingdevice 10 to be inserted into and removed from the protective case 34.The upper rigid component 38 a may comprise a first hinge part 44 a, andthe lower rigid component 38 b may comprise a second hinge part 44 b. Inorder to form the clamshell, the first hinge part 44 a and the secondhinge part 44 b may be aligned and secured together. More specifically,the first hinge part 44 a may comprise two separate sections, and thesecond hinge part 44 b may be positioned between the separate sectionsof the first hinge part 44 a, so that holes in the separate sections ofthe first hinge part 44 a are aligned with a hole in the second hingepart 44 b. A pin may then be placed through each of these holes in orderto form a hinge that secures the upper rigid component 38 a to the lowerrigid component 38 b.

Alternatively, the first hinge part 44 a (with its separate sections)may be located on the lower rigid component 38 b, and the second hingepart 44 b may be located on the upper rigid component 38 a. Other hingeconfigurations may also be utilized.

When the clamshell formed by the upper rigid component 38 a and thelower rigid component 38 b is in a closed position, the upper rigidcomponent 38 a and the lower rigid component 38 b may be latchedtogether so that the clamshell remains in the closed position. The lowerrigid component 38 b may comprise first latch components 82, and theupper rigid component 38 a may comprise second latch components 86. Thefirst latch components 82 and the second latch components 86 may beattached in order to maintain the clamshell in a closed position. Morespecifically, the first latch components 82 may comprise latches 82, andthe second latch components 86 may comprise latch receptacles 86. Thelatches 82 may be inserted into the latch receptacles 86 in order tomaintain the clamshell in the closed position. In alternativeembodiments, other latch configurations may be utilized.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower rigid component 38 b includes an uppersurface 64. The upper surface 64 may be generally flat (planar) andsmooth, so that a back surface of the portable computing device 10(i.e., the surface that is opposite the surface with the display) mayeasily slide along the upper surface 64. When the upper rigid component38 a and the lower rigid component 38 b are attached to one another, theupper surface 64 of the lower rigid component 38 b becomes the lowersurface 64 of the cavity 62. When the accessory 60 is in its assembledform, the back surface of the portable computing device 10 is positionedagainst the lower surface 64 of the cavity 62, and the lower surface 64of the cavity 62 is substantially parallel to the upper surface 42 ofthe upper rigid component 38 a.

The size of the upper rigid component 38 a may be such that the depth ofthe cavity 62, measured from the upper surface 42 of the upper rigidcomponent 38 a to the lower surface 64 of the cavity 62, issubstantially equal to the thickness of the portable computing device10. Thus, when the accessory 60 is in its assembled form and theportable computing device 10 is positioned in the cavity 62, a face ofthe portable computing device 10 may be flush with the upper surface 42of the upper rigid component 38 a and in contact with the display cover36. Moreover, the display of the portable computing device 10 may be incontact with the transparent area 84 of the display cover 36, so thatthe display is visible through the display cover 36.

The accessory 60 may also comprise a barcode reader engine 66, which isshown in FIG. 4. The barcode reader engine 66 may provide barcodereading functionality. The barcode reader engine 66 may include a camerafor capturing an image of a barcode to be read. The camera may include alens that focuses light reflected from a target area onto a photo sensorarray. The barcode reader engine 66 may also include a decoder. Once animage of a barcode has been captured by the camera, the decoder mayprocess the image and extract the information contained in the barcode.

The accessory 60 may also comprise a connector base 68 and an electricalconnector 70 protruding from the connector base 68. As shown in FIG. 4,the connector base 68 may be located on, and protrude from, the surface64 of the lower rigid component 38 b. As indicated above, this surface64 may also function as the lower surface 64 of the cavity 62. Thus,when the accessory 60 is in its assembled form, the connector base 68may be positioned within an interior portion of the protective case 34.

The electrical connector 70 may facilitate electronic communicationbetween the portable computing device 10 and the barcode reader engine66. The electrical connector 70 may be electrically coupled to thebarcode reader engine 66. That is, the electrical connector 70 mayinclude one or more electrical conductors (e.g., electrical contacts)that interconnect the electrical connector 70 to the barcode readerengine 66. In addition, the electrical connector 70 may be mechanicallyconfigured to engage a mating electrical connector on the portablecomputing device 10 when the portable computing device 10 is positionedwithin the protective case 34. More specifically, the electricalconnector 70 may be positioned so as to interconnect with a matingelectrical connector positioned along an edge of the portable computingdevice 10 when the portable computing device 10 is enclosed within theprotective case 34.

The electrical connector 70 may facilitate the exchange of data betweenthe barcode reader engine 66 and the portable computing device 10through a corresponding electrical contact of the mating connector onthe portable computing device 10.

When the accessory 60 is in its assembled form and the portablecomputing device 10 is positioned therein, the barcode reader engine 66and the portable computing device 10 may exchange data. The portablecomputing device 10 may transmit data to the barcode reader engine 66.For example, the portable computing device 10 may transmit a triggersignal to the barcode reader engine 66 to initiate reading of a barcodeby the barcode reader engine 66. This trigger signal may be sent inresponse to user input to the portable computing device 10. The userinput may be received via the touch screen display of the portablecomputing device 10. Alternatively, or in addition, the barcode readerengine 66 may transmit data to the portable computing device 10. Forexample, after reading and decoding a barcode, the barcode reader engine66 may transmit decoded data to the portable computing device 10. Thedecoded data may be provided to an application running on the portablecomputing device 10 for additional processing. Alternatively, thebarcode reader engine 66 may transmit image data to the portablecomputing device 10, and decoding software running on the portablecomputing device 10 may process the image data in an attempt to decodethe barcode.

Because the rigid component 38 comprises two separate components 38 a-b,a line may be visible between these components 38 a-b when they areattached together. This line, which separates the upper rigid component38 a from the lower rigid component 38 b, may be referred to herein as apart line. This part line may be planar with the lower surface 64 of thecavity 62.

Guides 74 may protrude from the lower surface 64 of the cavity 62. Theseguides 74 may make it easier to insert the portable computing device 10into the protective case 34. Each guide 74 may be located close to oneside of the lower rigid component 38 b, and may be positioned parallelto the length of the lower rigid component 38 b. The guides 74 may bespaced apart by a width of the portable computing device 10 so that theportable computing device 10 may be slid along the lower surface 64 ofthe cavity 62 between the guides 74.

The connector base 68 may be mounted to the lower surface 64 of thecavity 62 near one end. In order to insert the portable computing device10 into the protective case 34, a surface of the portable computingdevice 10 (e.g., the back surface, opposite the surface with thedisplay) may be placed in contact with the lower surface 64 of thecavity 62. The portable computing device 10 may then be slid between thetwo guides 74 along the lower surface 64 of the cavity 62 towards theelectrical connector 70, so that the electrical connector 70 and themating connector of the portable computing device 10 engage.

As indicated above, the lower pliable component 40 b may be molded overthe lower rigid component 38 b. The lower pliable component 40 b and thelower rigid component 38 b may be referred to collectively as a lowerenclosure 76. The space between the lower pliable component 40 b and thelower rigid component 38 b may be referred to as an interior region 90of the lower enclosure 76.

The lower enclosure 76 may include the substantially planar uppersurface 64 of the lower rigid component 38 b, which also functions asthe upper surface 64 of the lower enclosure 76. The interior region 90is positioned below the back side of this upper surface 64 (i.e., theside of the lower rigid component 38 b that is opposite the uppersurface 64, which is not visible in FIG. 4). A back side of the portablecomputing device 10 may be positioned against the upper surface 64 whenthe portable computing device 10 is enclosed within the protective case34. The barcode reader engine 66 may be positioned within the interiorregion 90 of the lower enclosure 76, below the upper surface 64 of thelower rigid component 38 b (which, as indicated above, is also the lowersurface 64 of the cavity 62). The lower rigid component 38 b includesside walls 97 that extend downward from the upper surface 64.

The accessory 60 may also include a battery 78. The battery 78 may alsobe positioned within the interior region 90 of the lower enclosure 76 ofthe protective case 34, within an open section 88 of the interior region90 that is shown in FIG. 4. The battery 78 may provide operating powerto the barcode reader engine 66. The accessory 60 may include powerleads that couple the battery 78 to the barcode reader engine 66. Thebattery 78 may also provide operating power to the portable computingdevice 10. If the portable computing device 10 includes its own battery,then the battery 78 may serve as a supplemental source of operatingpower for the portable computing device 10. The battery 78 may beelectrically coupled to the electrical connector 70, and the electricalconnector 70 may provide power to the portable computing device 10through the mating electrical connector on the portable computing device10.

When the accessory 60 is in its assembled form and the portablecomputing device 10 is positioned therein, the accessory 60 may bewaterproof (i.e., it may prevent water from entering the cavity 62 wherethe portable computing device 10 is located). Thus, the protective case34 may not comprise a hole for exposing a connector on the portablecomputing device 10, and it may not be possible to connect a cable tothe portable computing device 10 when the portable computing device 10is positioned within the accessory 60.

As indicated above, the upper pliable component 40 a may be molded overthe upper rigid component 38 a while the display cover 36 is in place.This may have the effect of forming a cover 92 for the protective case34. In other words, a protective case cover 92 may be formed from theupper rigid component 38 a, the display cover 36, and the upper pliablecomponent 40 a.

The protective case cover 92 may be attached to the lower enclosure 76by a hinge. More specifically, the upper rigid component 38 a (which ispart of the protective case cover 92) and the lower rigid component 38 b(which is part of the lower enclosure 76) may be hinged together, asdescribed above. The hinge may comprise, for example, a first hinge part44 a of the upper rigid component 38 a, and a second hinge part 44 b ofthe lower rigid component 38 b, which may be aligned and securedtogether in the manner described above.

The connector base 68 protrudes near a bottom edge 95 of the uppersurface 64 of the lower enclosure 76. When the protective case cover 92is attached to the lower enclosure 76, the hinge (comprising the firsthinge part 44 a and the second hinge part 44 b) is also positioned atthe bottom edge 95 of the upper surface 64 of the lower enclosure 76.

The protective case cover 92 may be movable about an axis of the hingebetween an open position and a closed position. Placing the protectivecase cover 92 in the open position exposes the upper surface 64 of thelower enclosure 76, such that the mating electrical connector of theportable computing device 10 may be engaged to the electrical connector70 protruding from the connector base 68 by positioning the back side ofthe portable computing device 10 against the upper surface 64 andsliding the portable computing device 10 towards the electricalconnector 70.

Placing the protective case cover 92 in the closed position forms asealed cavity enclosing the portable computing device 10 when the matingelectrical connector of the portable computing device 10 is engaged tothe electrical connector 70. This sealed cavity will be explained ingreater detail below.

The top portion of the protective case cover 92 includes a substantiallyplanar surface. More specifically, when the upper pliable component 40 ais molded over the upper rigid component 38 a, a top surface 94 of theupper pliable component 40 a (which functions as the top surface 94 ofthe protective case cover 92) and the display cover 36 form asubstantially planar surface. The sealed cavity is formed by thissubstantially planar surface, peripheral walls 98 around the protectivecase cover 92, and the side walls 97 that extend downward from the uppersurface 64 of the lower enclosure 76. The peripheral walls 98 thatextend downward from the top surface 94 of the protective case cover 92seal to the side walls 97 that extend downward from the upper surface 64of the lower enclosure 76 when the protective case cover 92 is in theclosed position. In this way, the protective case cover 92 may beconsidered to be cap shaped.

In an alternative embodiment, the peripheral walls 98 may extend upwardfrom edges of the upper surface 64 of the lower enclosure 76, and theymay seal to the top surface 94 of the protective case cover 92 (or toside walls that extend downward from the top surface 94 of theprotective case cover 92).

Referring again to the depicted embodiment, the peripheral walls 98 thatextend downward from the top surface 94 of the protective case cover 92include a top peripheral wall (not visible in FIG. 4). Similarly, theside walls 97 that extend downward from the upper surface 64 of thelower enclosure 76 include a top side wall (not visible in FIG. 4),which extends downward from a top edge 93 of the upper surface 64. Thetop edge 93 of the upper surface 64 opposes the bottom edge 95 of theupper surface 64. When the protective case cover 92 is in the closedposition, the top peripheral wall 98 a seals against the top side wallat the top edge 93 of the upper surface 64.

The top surface 94 of the protective case cover 92 includes a windowthrough which a display of the portable computing device 10 may beinteracted with by a user. This window may comprise an open aperture 96in the central part of the upper pliable component 40 a. This window mayalso comprise the transparent central area 84 of the display cover 36.As indicated above, there may be a waterproof seal between the displaycover 36 and the upper surface 42 of the upper rigid component 38 a aswell as between the display cover 36 and the upper rigid component 38 a.

As used herein, two objects and/or axes are “substantially parallel” ifthey are at least within five degrees of parallel. As used herein, twometrics (such as thickness, depth, height, length, etc.) are“substantially equal” if they are at least within five percent of eachother. As used herein, a surface is “substantially planar” if a majorityof the surface is planar (i.e., flat).

The claims are not limited to the specific implementations describedabove. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in thearrangement, operation and details of the implementations describedherein without departing from the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective case for a portable computingdevice, comprising: an upper rigid component comprising an upper surfaceand an aperture within the upper surface that is open to a display faceof the portable computing device; a display cover having a surface areathat is larger than the aperture within the upper surface, wherein atleast a central area of the display cover is transparent, and whereinthe display cover is positioned over the aperture and is also positionedover at least part of the upper surface of the upper rigid component;and a pliable component molded around at least a portion of the upperrigid component and over a portion of the display cover that is incontact with the upper surface of the upper rigid component, therebyforming a waterproof seal between the display cover and the uppersurface of the upper rigid component.
 2. The protective case of claim 1,further comprising peripheral walls around the periphery of the upperrigid component and extending downward from the upper surface to form acavity within the upper rigid component below the upper surface, whereinthe cavity is for receiving the portable computing device and, when theportable computing device is positioned in the cavity, the display faceof the portable computing device is flush with the upper surface of therigid component and in contact with the display cover.
 3. The protectivecase of claim 2, wherein a depth of the cavity from the upper surface toa lower surface that is substantially parallel to the upper surface issubstantially equal to a thickness of the portable computing device. 4.The protective case of claim 1, wherein the case further comprises: alower rigid component that is hinged to the upper rigid component toform a clamshell that can be opened and closed to permit insertion andremoval of the portable computing device; and a second pliable componentpositioned between the upper rigid component and the lower rigidcomponent to form a water proof seal therebetween.
 5. The protectivecase of claim 4, wherein: the upper rigid component comprises a firsthinge part; the lower rigid component comprises a second hinge part; andthe first hinge part and the second hinge part are aligned and securedtogether in order to form the clamshell.
 6. The protective case of claim4, wherein: the lower rigid component comprises a first latch component;the upper rigid component comprises a second latch component; and thefirst latch component and the second latch component are attached inorder to maintain the clamshell in a closed position.
 7. The protectivecase of claim 4, wherein the pliable component comprises: an upperpliable component molded over the upper rigid component; and a lowerpliable component molded over the lower rigid component.
 8. Theprotective case of claim 3, wherein the upper rigid component comprisesa ridge that protrudes above the upper surface around at least a portionof the perimeter of the upper surface, such that the upper surface formsthe bottom of a tray into which the display cover is positioned.
 9. Theprotective case of claim 1, further comprising positioning bossesprotruding from the upper surface of the rigid component, wherein thepositioning bosses align with corresponding positioning cutouts in thedisplay cover.
 10. The protective case of claim 1, wherein: the cavitycomprises a rectangular shape; the upper surface of the rigid componentcomprises four sides that surround the rectangular-shaped cavity; andthe display cover is in contact with each of the four sides of the uppersurface.
 11. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the waterproof sealis formed without the use of an adhesive sealant.
 12. The protectivecase of claim 1, wherein the protective case does not comprise a holefor exposing a connector on the portable computing device.